Cervical support harness assembly

ABSTRACT

A cervical support harness for a head of a user seated in a seat in a generally upright position has a flexible elastic headband and a cross strap that is configured to extend across the top of the user&#39;s head, from front to back. A crescent or U-shaped neck pillow is secured to a back portion of the headband by an attachment strap that extends downwardly from the headband, when the headband is positioned on the user&#39;s head. An elongated flexible securing band attached, at one of its ends, to the front portion of the headband is adapted for wrapping around the back of the seat and for securing at the front of the headband, thus preventing undesirable jolting movement of the user&#39;s head. A front visor shields the eyes and upper part of the user&#39;s head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cervical supports designed to assist a person in maintaining alignment of the upper spinal column by giving a harness support to the head of an infant strapped in a car seat or a sleeping person seated in a substantially upright position, such as in car or airplane seat.

Infants require head and body support when they are seated in either a reclining or substantially upright position. Because infants do not have fully developed neck muscles, such support is necessary to prevent their heads from rolling to one side.

Infant car safety seats are conventionally made of molded plastic shell equipped with a releasable safety harness that is anchored to the shell at least by three points. Such car safety seats typically include a three- or five-point safety harness that has shoulder straps and a leg strap that buckles with the shoulder straps. A soft, padded cover is typically also provided for supporting an infant in the car seat.

Additionally, an optional head support pillow is provided that cradles the infant's head by surrounding the back and sides of the head. The head support pillow is removable from the car seat; it is conventionally used for cervical support of very small children, such as newborns, whose neck muscles are not sufficiently developed to support the head.

As the baby gets older and is capable of supporting the head, the head support pillow need no longer be used. However, the child is still required to be transported in an infant car seat. As the car moves, the child still needs support to cushion the child's head and neck to protect against any injury that can result from jolting movements during transport. Additionally, when an infant falls asleep in the infant car seat, the infant's head is free to move, which may adversely affect the cervical alignment.

A similar problem exists when adult passengers in a car or an airplane try to sleep, while sitting substantially upright. Some people employ a U-shaped roll that forms a crescent pillow around the passenger's neck to support the back and sides of the neck. However, due to jerking motions of the vehicle, the head can move forward and back, disturbing the passenger's rest. Besides, the neck pillow inherently cannot provide proper cervical alignment, causing substantial discomfort to the passenger.

The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with prior designs and provision of a cervical support harness assembly that can be proportionately sized to accommodate an infant or an adult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cervical support harness assembly that facilitates head support for a baby.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cervical support harness assembly for an adult that facilitates cervical alignment of the user.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a cervical support harness for a head of a user seated in a seat in a generally upright position has a flexible elastic headband and a cross strap that is configured to extend across the top of the user's head, from front to back. A crescent or U-shaped neck pillow is secured to a back portion of the headband by an attachment strap that extends downwardly from the headband, when the headband is positioned on the user's head.

An elongated flexible securing band attached, at one of its ends, to the front portion of the headband is adapted for wrapping around the back of the seat and for securing at the front of the headband, thus preventing undesirable jolting movement of the user's head. A front visor shields the eyes and upper part of the user's head.

The user can be an infant seated in an infant car seat or an adult seated in a car, or other seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cervical support harness assembly of the present invention particularly adapted for supporting a baby's head.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cervical support harness assembly of the present invention with a front visor, the embodiment being particularly adapted for supporting a head of an adult.

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing elements of the cervical support harness assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the cervical support harness assembly of the instant invention used for a baby seated in an infant car seat.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the cervical support harness assembly of the instant invention as used by an adult positioned in a car seat.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the cervical support harness assembly as used by an adult seated in a car seat.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the cervical support harness assembly of the instant invention as used by an adult seated in an airplane seat.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the cervical support harness assembly of the instant invention as used by an adult seated in an airplane seat.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the cervical support harness assembly of the present invention. The assembly 10 comprises an elastic headband 12 that is formed from a soft, resilient, stretchable material. Preferably, the headband 12 is formed from a moisture absorbent material, such as used for sweatbands. The headband 12 stretches to accommodate to various size circumference of a user's head.

To facilitate correct position of the headband 12 on the user's head and prevent the headband 12 from sliding downwardly, a cross strap 14 is secured to diametrically opposite locations 16 and 18 of the headband 12, that is from the front portion to the back portion of the headband 12. The cross strap 14 is sized to extend over the frontal and parietal bone regions of the person's head, front to back, such that the headband 12 does not descend below the user's forehead (see, FIGS. 4, 5 and 8). The cross band 14 is formed from a non-stretchable soft fabric. The cross band 14 can be fixedly secured to the headband 12 by stitching at points 16 and 18 or can be detachably secured using hook-and-loop fasteners.

A neck pillow 20 is configured to support the back and sides of the neck of the user, preferably the upper part of the neck, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The neck pillow 20 has a generally U-shaped configuration; it may have a round, oval or rectangular cross-section. The pillow 20 may be formed from open-pore polyurethane foam of light or medium density or cotton fillings. Alternatively, the neck pillow 20 may be formed from as an inflatable body. The neck pillow 20 is preferably enclosed in a cover formed from a soft fabric so as not to cause skin irritation.

An attachment strap 22 is secured between the headband 12 and the neck pillow 20. The attachment strap 22 is formed from a soft fabric material that has minimum stretching characteristics. The attachment strap 22 can be fixedly secured, such as by stitching, to the headband 12 in general alignment with the securing area 16 or can be detachably secured to the headband using hook-and-loop fasteners. The opposite end 24 of the attachment strap 22 is attached to the center portion of the neck pillow 20. In one of the preferred embodiments, the end 24 of the attachment strap 22 is fixedly attached to the neck pillow 20.

An adjustable elongated securing band 26 has a first end 27 and a second end 28, an inner side 29 and an outer side 30. A piece of hook-and-loop fastener 32 is secured to the inner side 29 adjacent the first end 27. Another piece of matching hook-and-loop fastener 34 is attached to the outer side 30 adjacent the second end 28 of the securing band 26. The end 28 is also securely attached to the headband 12 at the area of attachment 18 where the cross strap 14 is secured to the headband 12. The securing band 26 has longitudinal dimensions sufficient to wrap around the back of the seat, in which the user is positioned and form a closed loop when the ends 27 and 28 are joined together using the matching pieces 32, 34 of the hook-and-loop fasteners.

The securing band 26 extends substantially in the same direction as the headband 12, that is transversely to the cross strap 14 and to the attachment strap 22. A portion of the securing band 26 follows the orientation of the headband 12, while the first end 27 remains free prior to securing of the securing band 26 about the seat, be it an infant car seat or an adult seat. The securing band 26 is formed from a soft fabric material. In one of the preferred embodiments, the securing band 26 is formed from a fabric that has minimal stretching characteristics and has a friction sufficient to prevent sliding of the securing strap along the seat.

An optional front visor or shield 40 is secured to the securing band 26, overlapping a portion of the securing band 26 in the front of the harness 10. The visor front 40 extends at an angle to a normal axis of the headband 12 and is configured to cover at least the upper portion of the user's face, preferably shielding the eyes from bright light. If desired, the lower edge 42 of the visor 40 may extend below the mouth of the user, as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8. The visor 40 can also be extended to cover the entire face of the user and provide privacy in a public transportation environment, if desired.

In one of the preferred embodiments, the visor 40 is formed from an opaque, non-transparent material, relatively thick cotton fabric that retains its arcuate shape following the contours of the user's face. If desired the visor 40 may be detachably secured, such as by hook-and-loop fasteners, to the front of the headband 12. The outside surface of the visor 40 may be decorated with various indicia, including advertising indicia.

In operation and with particular reference to FIG. 4, the headband 12 is positioned on the head 50 of a baby seated in an infant seat 52. The neck pillow is oriented to extend behind the baby's head in a partially surrounding relationship to the baby's neck 54. The cross strap 14 extends across the baby's head, from front to back, ensuring that the headband 12 does not slide downwardly.

The child's caregiver then holds the end 27 and wraps the securing band 26 around the seat 52. The user then secures the matching pieces 32, 34 of the hook-and-loop fasteners together at the front of the baby's head. Since the headband 12 is stretchable it easily adjusts to the circumference of the baby's head without applying any excessive pressure to the head.

The baby's head is thus partially immobilized, with the neck 54 being in a proper alignment, while also supported by the neck pillow 20. The head 50 of the baby is supported in the upper region, while the neck rests against the neck pillow 20. As a result, the baby's head does not freely move sideways, or forward.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate position of the assembly 10 when used by an adult seated in a car seat. As can be seen in the drawing, the securing band 26 is long enough to be wrapped once or twice around a headrest 60 of a car seat 62. In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the neck pillow 20 is located at or below the headrest 60, while the headband 12 is located close to the top of the headrest 60.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention where the assembly 10 is used for an adult seated in an airplane. It is envisioned that this embodiment may be particularly advantageous where privacy or light blocking is desired. In such a case, the visor 40 protects the eyes of the user, shielding them from light and allowing the user to rest his head, while maintaining correct cervical alignment. The neck pillow 20 is positioned behind the back and about the sides of the user's neck and supports the head of the user. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the harness assembly 10 supports the head of the user, while the securing band 26 is wrapped around the headrest 64 of an airplane seat 65.

The harness assembly 10 can be placed on the head of the user while the user is in a seated position, without the need for the user to get up and out of the seat or be in a standing position while applying the securing strap. In an emergency situation, the harness assembly 10 can be easily removed, without limiting movements of the user. It is envisioned that the harness assembly of the present invention may also be used when the person is in a supine or partially reclining position. The person using the harness maintains comfortable breathing by keeping the head in a substantially upright position while sleeping.

The device of the present invention allows infants and adults to sleep comfortably while in a substantially upright position and minimize whiplash type of injury to the cervical spine when seated facing forward. As described above, the harness assembly 10 prevents or minimizes forward, lateral, bending and rotational movement of the neck. The limited movement that is allowed by the headband 12 and the securing band 26 tends to minimize the forces acting on the cervical vertebra of the user. A whiplash type of injury may be particularly harmful to a baby when the car comes to an abrupt stop, causing the baby's head to be thrown forward. By limiting the ability of the head to move forward, the harness assembly minimizes the effect of a possible whiplash.

When used by an adult, the harness assembly tends to maintain the head in an anatomically correct position, preventing the head from uncontrolled sideways or bending movements which may cause cervicalgia. The harness assembly of the present invention may also minimize facet joint irritation/inflammation by keeping the cervical vertebra in a relative alignment. By minimizing the facet joint inflammation, the instant invention may lower the rate of degenerative process in the cervical spine and limit the range of motion problems, especially in senior adults.

The straps and bands of the harness assembly can be formed from a washable material, thus making the harness 10 reusable. The straps and bands of the harness assembly may be formed from soft fabric cotton fabric or a blend of cotton with other materials. If desired, earplugs can be applied to provide additional blocking of noise.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A cervical support harness assembly for supporting a head of user seated in a seat in a generally upright position, the assembly comprising: a headband formed from a flexible resilient material and configured for positioning around a user's head, said headband having a front portion and a back portion; a cross strap configured to extend across from the front portion of the headband to the back portion of the headband; a neck support member secured to the cross strap by an attachment strap; and a means for detachably securing the harness assembly to a back of the seat.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for detachably securing the harness assembly comprises an elongated securing band having a first end secured to a front portion of the headband and a second end configured for detachable engagement with the first end.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said securing band has longitudinal dimensions sufficient to extend around the back of the seat and form a closed loop when the first end is detachably engaged with the second end.
 4. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the securing band has longitudinal dimensions to extend around a back of an infant car seat.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the securing band has longitudinal dimensions to extend around a back of a car seat.
 6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the securing band has longitudinal dimensions to extend around a back of an airplane seat.
 7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first end of the securing band is provided with an engagement member and the second end of the securing band is provided with a matching engagement member configured to engage the first end.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said headband is formed from an elastic material to facilitate adjustment of the headband to the user's head.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said neck pillow has a generally U-shaped configuration.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment strap extends in a general alignment to the cross strap and is secured to the back portion of the headband.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a visor secured to the front portion of the headband, said visor configured to shield at least an upper part of a user's face.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said visor is formed from a non-transparent material.
 13. A method of supporting a head of a user seated in a seat in a generally upright position, comprising the steps: providing a cervical support harness assembly comprising a headband formed from a flexible resilient material, said headband having a front portion and a back portion, a cross strap configured to extend across from the front portion of the headband to the back portion of the headband, a neck support member secured to the cross strap by an attachment strap, and an elongated securing strap having a first end secured to the front portion of the headband and a second end; positioning the headband on the user's head, while the user is seated in the seat, while orienting the cross strap to extend along a top of the user's head, from a front to a back of the user's head; positioning the neck support member behind a user's neck; and wrapping the securing member around a back of the seat, in which the user is seated, and then joining the first end of the securing band with the second end of the securing band to form a closed loop, thereby restraining movement of the user's head while supporting the user's head seated in the seat.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user is an infant and the seat is an infant car seat.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the seat is a car seat.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the seat is an airplane seat.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of providing a visor and securing the visor to the front portion of the headband.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said visor is configured to shield at least an upper part of a user's face.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the visor is formed from a non-transparent material.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the first end of the securing band is provided with an engagement member and the second end of the securing band is provided with a matching engagement member configured to engage the first end.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein said neck pillow has a generally U-shaped configuration.
 22. The method of claim 13, wherein the attachment strap extends in a general alignment to the cross strap and is secured to the back portion of the headband.
 23. The method of claim 13, wherein said headband is formed from an elastic material configured to facilitate adjustment of the headband to different size heads. 